NRL: Storm fallout could benefit the Warriors

The Warriors have chased Storm captain Cameron Smith in the past. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors stand to benefit long-term from the financial catastrophe enveloping the Melbourne Storm.

A heavy cloak of Storm players are set to be shed at the end of the season to help get the club a further A$700,000 (NZ$905,000) under the salary cap and the Warriors are believed to be sitting on enough of a war chest to be able to pick some of them up.

They said earlier this season they would target quality over quantity when shopping in Australia, meaning they could be in the market for a marquee player like halfback Cooper Cronk or hooker Cameron Smith, a player they have chased in the past.

The unexpected development might also change their thinking around Eels duo Krisnan Inu and Faleti Mateo.

No one from the Warriors is yet prepared to speak in depth on the issue - especially with the match against the Storm tonight in Melbourne - but it is bound to be getting a good airing in the lunchroom at Warriors HQ.

Deals could evolve and the Warriors could grab players either this season or next.

They still have room under the cap this season but it might not be enough for a top player.

An alternative might be to pay the Storm a part-share of a player's salary. That is understood to have happened in the past with Michael Witt when he left Manly.

The Warriors then get use of the player and the Storm ease the financial pressure that has pushed them over the threshold.

In such an eventuality, the Warriors would look to have the player signed up for a couple of years beyond the pay-out date to reap maximum benefit.

But Storm players might not come up for grabs this season. None will have to take pay cuts this year because their salaries are underwritten by their owners (and co-owners of the NRL) News Ltd.

The Warriors have chased a star playmaker. While Brett Seymour looked good before fracturing his hand and halfback James Maloney has been decent it is understandable for the Warriors to investigate their options when they unlock the safe.

The tricky part would be luring players to Auckland - it's likely big fish would require extra bait to cross the Tasman.